Tillabéri: Communal Tensions in Sella Illimiki, At Least Two Dead

December 4, 2025 - Nighttime clashes erupted Thursday evening in Sella Illimiki, a town south of Bankilaré in the Tillabéri region. According to local sources, self-defense militias, arriving on horseback from the village of Tara (Kokorou commune), stormed the town around 10 p.m., triggering fierce fighting with residents. The hostilities lasted much of the night, resulting in a significant provisional death toll. At least two people were killed, including a militiaman and a villager, and several others were wounded, both civilians and militiamen.

The violence of these clashes reflects the persistent communal tensions in this region, where local rivalries can quickly escalate into deadly incidents. Local authorities remain on high alert and are trying to intervene to restore calm, but the situation remains extremely tense and worrying for the population.